Chapter Thirty-Seven

1996

Scarlett

The days became easier as they passed, and I settled back into a routine at Hogwarts, surrounded by now familiar faces. Friends.

My nightmares lessened, until they only awoke me once or twice a week, and with a supply of Fred and George's Sweet Dreams chocolates, I'd eat a quarter of a cloud, and sleep peacefully for the rest of those interrupted nights.

Apart from Potions, where we remained partners, I no longer associated Draco as anything more than another student. I was better for it. He seemed happier not associating with me too. After our final confrontation in the Finer Arts chamber that night, weeks earlier, it was clear he and I were on completely different sides. Perhaps my father had been right all along?

High screams rent the air, snapping me from my thoughts. I instinctively ripped out my wand, Max and Fi doing the same at my side.

"Where is that coming from?" Fi asked, glancing about warily. Max hurried to the first-floor windows which overlooked the castle entrance below

"It's Professor Trelawney." Max said, and I cautiously approached the window and sound of the pitiful screams. There, surrounded by a growing number of students, was the Divination Professor, a bottle of wine in hand, seeming to circle about off kilter. There were suitcases next to her.

"What on earth is she doing?" Fi asked, coming up beside me. Unlike Max and I, Fi took Divination.

"Hope it's not something Umbridge has done." I muttered, catching sight of her ghastly pink robes.

"I think you spoke too soon." Max gestured to where Trelawney was staring in what appeared to be outright fear, directly at Umbridge, who seemed to be pleased with whatever was going down. Umbridge was talking, and McGonagall, who now pushed through the crowed towards Trelawney, looked murderous.

"Should we head down there?" Fi whispered, as if her lowered voice would make it easier to hear the commotion going on below.

"No. There are enough people down there." I said, knowing too well how horrible it felt to have all eyes on you. I didn't know Professor Trelawney at all, taking Arithmancy over Divination, but by her tear-stained face, and look of fear and despair, and the victorious cruel glint in Umbridge's cold gaze, I felt immensely sorry for the Divination Professor.

"Look, it's Dumbledore." Max said, and the headmaster appeared, students taking respectful steps back to allow him into the circle.

...

We learned later at dinner, Umbridge had been kicking Trelawney out, and effectively firing her from her position as Divination Professor after observing her classes. Apparently, Umbridge had deemed her unfit by Ministry standards, whatever they were, to teach. Professor Dumbledore had stepped in, saying Trelawney could remain living at Hogwarts, and he'd found a replacement to teach Divination in the meantime, a young male Centaur, who Lavender, Parvati, and Paige, were currently gazing longingly at from where he stood at the end of the Professors table, delicately picking at a bowl of salad.

"Not you too?" Max nudged me in the side, and I turned from the head table, to look at him.

"Hmm?"

"Do you also have a crush on the new Professor?" He rolled his eyes towards Firenze.

"Oh, no, I was just thinking it was funny how Paige does." I whispered with a small grin.

"Good. It's a common fact, guys have no hope of competing for a witch's heart when it involves equines of any kind." He shot me a quick grin, before going back to eating his meal, Fred, who sat on his other side now engaging him in conversation. Was Max flirting with me? Pixies stirred in my stomach as I replayed his words, pulling their meaning apart. I liked that he was glad I wasn't interested in the new Professor. Although, admittedly, he had a gorgeous, thick glossy tail. I'd have to ask him how to get Astrix's tail looking so lustrous.

After dinner, as we walked back up to the common room, to then prepare to sneak out for D.A, I was hyper-aware of how close Max walked at my side, hands accidentally brushing one another's as we climbed the stairs. I suddenly craved his hand wrapped about mine. He'd held my hand a few times since I'd returned. As a comfort as I'd re-adjusted. Or occasionally slung an arm about my shoulders. But, could it be more? Did I want it to be more?

"I'll meet you back here in say, ten?" I said, pausing his trajectory towards the boys' dorms, with a touch of his forearm. He stilled, and turned to face me, glancing briefly at where my hand still rested on his arm. Heat danced under my fingers, and suddenly across my cheeks.

"I'll wait for you." He replied softly, and was I over analyzing everything far too much right now, or did he mean something else? Swallowing I nodded, and pulling my hand away, hurried up to the fifth-year dorms.

The evening was spent working on dueling technique. I was paired with Max, Fi having made the excuse of wanting to swap partners around to gain more skill dueling others. I tried to keep my excitement at working with Max hidden. When Harry called us up to duel, the twins let out wolf whistles, and I fought not to blush, as pixies swooped and dived in my stomach.

I'd dueled Max before, but it was when Harry first started D.A and felt like a lifetime ago. It felt different now. He grinned, as I dodged and blocked his first lazy attacks, and soon after I fired a range of consecutive spells at him, he also deflected, but which seemed to bring out his competitive side. We danced around each other, shooting and dodging spells, casting shields, and trying to disarm the other. Max was an excellent duelist, and I was glad I was slightly nimbler on my feet to stay just one step ahead of him. He feigned an attack, and I didn't move fast enough to counter block his tripping jinx, managing to roll out of reach of his follow up disarming spell, glad the floor in the Room of Requirement was soft for anyone who fell. I sent a mufilato his way, a spur of the moment idea. His voice gone, he could not send any spells my way, unless he knew how to create spells unspoken. He raced about the room, dodging my spells as I leapt back to my feet. To my confusion, he ran at me, sidestepping my next disarming spell, moments before colliding into me. We went down in a heap of tangled limbs, and my wand went flying across the floor. Max grinned down at me in triumph, and I realised he'd won. Damn him!

"Well played. I grinned up at him, as someone returned Max's voice to him. Likely Harry.

"You too." He said breathlessly, gazing down at me. He was holding himself up, watching me, one of his legs partially draped over one of mine. We were really close. He seemed to realise our proximity too, leaping up, before reaching a hand out to offer me. I took it, letting his strong grip pull me to my feet, not expecting to bump into his solid chest by the action.

"Um, thanks." I stepped back quickly, letting go of his hand, all too aware of the sniggers from Fred and George, and a giggle from someone else.

"Right, err, well done Max, and Scar. Ron, Ginny, you're up next." Harry said, breaking through the awkwardness. Ron walked forward with a groan, while his sister spun her wand between her fingers in wicked delight.

...

A week later, I sat in comfortable silence on one of the double lounges, in front of the common room fire reading a new book, while Max sat on the other side, playing a game of chess with Lee. Max had originally asked me to play, but I'd convinced him I was terrible at it, and Lee had volunteered. There had been some whispering and swearing over the loser accepting and carrying out a dare from the winner, but otherwise the pair had played in determined silence for the past hour. I was starting to consider heading up to bed, when Lee let out a wolf-howl of victory, and before I'd realised what I'd done, I'd leapt up, wand drawn.

"Oh, shit!" Lee breathed out; eyes wide on mine.

"Scar, it's alright." Max's steady voice came from my side, a gentle hand wrapped about mine, and lowered my wand.

"Oh my gosh, Lee, I'm so sorry." I stammered out, beginning to shake. I thought I was getting better. Tears prickled at the corners of my eyes.

"Hey, no stress." Lee shrugged, giving me a small, tentative smile.

"I'm sorry, I don't know what come over me." I mumbled, sinking back down into the chair on wobbly knees.

"It's alright, you just got a fright." Max reassured, sitting close at my side, slipping a warm arm about my shaking shoulders.

"Good game, Max. Sorry I uh scared you, Scar." Lee said, looking like he wanted to flee the scene.

"It's okay, sorry too." I replied, shame washing over me. I could have hurt him.

"Night, guys." He nodded and headed in the direction of the dorms.

"Oh my gosh, he must think I'm insane." I let out a shaky breath and felt Max pull me a little closer against his side. The gesture was a welcome comfort. I felt weak from the rush of adrenalin which had tore through my body moments before and let my head rest on his shoulder.

"Trust me, he doesn't think your insane. No one could think that. He probably thinks, wow, now that's one badass witch who I wouldn't want to tangle with in a fight." I let out a small laugh, glad he was there with me. "Your reflexes are really good, great actually." Max added, and I felt the brush of his right hand over mine. "I've enjoyed dueling against you this past week." He added, voice dropping. "A lot." I didn't know how to respond. We'd had two more D.A meetings, and I couldn't deny I enjoyed them too, more than usual knowing I was partnered with Max, but each time we'd dueled, it felt as though we were moving closer and closer to a line, I was unsure if I wanted to cross.

"I've enjoyed it too" I breathed, my wrist tingling where his thumb had begun brushing over my veins in repetitive strokes.

"Would you mind if we spent more time together?" His voice was low near my ear, and I suppressed a shiver. Again, it felt as though his words held a double meaning, he was asking more of the friendship we had. Could I give more? Could I cross that line? I knew Max now more than I had the day he'd tried taking me out on the ice. A full season had passed, Spring now emerging from Winter, and in a strange way I likened myself to Persephone, able to leave the darkness of the underworld and embrace the light. Embrace life and what it had to offer.

Slowly, careful to gauge his proximity, I turned my head to face him, from where it had rested upon his shoulder. The warmth of his eyes was heightened by the flicker of the hearth flames. It was late, nearly eleven, and this part of the common room was empty but for us.

"Yeah, I'd like that." I whispered, hyper aware of how close our faces were, his breath ghosting over my nose, my lips. He turned his body fully towards me, his gaze capturing mine.

"I'm glad." His dark lashes dipped with his eyes, and my lips heated at where his attention was now focused. Mere inches, he moved closer still, so, so, slowly, as if he were giving me all the time in the world to decide, his lips featherlight upon my cheek, before withdrawing to catch my gaze again, asking for permission.

"That horrible toad!" A high voice exclaimed from somewhere behind us.

"Calm down, Hermione." Ron's voice came from near the portrait entrance, and Max and I pulled away to our respective ends of the lounge. My heart was pounding, and Max's eyes were dark chocolate, lightening to burnt caramel as the moment passed and Hermione and Ron ensured it would not return, flopping onto separate lounges in the same warm nook of the common room, warming themselves up by the fire.

"What's happened?" I asked, picking up and placing my book on my lap, and thumbing the binding needing to hold something.

"Umbridge has removed all the Defense Against the Dark Arts books from the Library." Hermione seethed.

"Well, not entirely." Ron chimed in.

"They've been added to the restricted area." Hermione glared at the fire.

"So, who's going to notice if you steal one?" Max suggested, and Hermione swung her gaze towards him.

"Harry did steal a book from the restricted area in first year." Ron said, seeming to warm to the idea.

"And nearly got caught."

"Please, Harry has done way worse since."

"Yes, but if he was caught and taken to Umbridge…" Hermione let out an agitated huff. "Now she's recruited the likes of Malfoy and his cronies to be her law abiding watchdogs-"

"Her what?" I snapped my gaze at her, confused. Draco despised Umbridge.

"Her Inquisitorial Squad." Hermione mimicked Umbridge's singsong voice. "She's hand-picked them to keep order within the school."

"Unbelievable." Max shook his head. I stared at Hermione in horror.

"They have more power than prefects." Ron muttered. Parkinson deducted fifty points from Gryffindor because we were doing our rounds too slow."

"Has someone gone to Dumbledore?" I asked. Hermione gave a sad shake of his head.

"Dumbledore knows what's going on. He's not in a position to fight Umbridge and the Ministry. Umbridge is bent on taking over the school."

Then let's get those books, and any others, before she does." Max said, standing.

"Now?" Ron asked, baffled.

"Yeah. Now makes the most sense. You were both the prefects on duty. You can head back out, pretend you're still on duty. We can follow behind, slip into the library." Max turned to me. "Are you up for an adventure?" I smirked at him, standing.

"Absolutely. Let's play the toad in a bow at her own game."

…

Ron had dragged Harry out of bed, and we'd formed a plan. Harry, who happened to own an invisibility cloak, would be the one grabbing the books. Max and I would hang around close by in the library, under our own disillusionment charms, to form a distraction if Harry looked to be at risk of being caught. Ron and Hermione were to look out for anyone coming and send them elsewhere if possible.

Harry walked somewhere behind Max and I, who kept close together under our own combined charms, keeping to the darkest shadows along each corridor or stair. Hermione and Ron walked twenty meters ahead of us, wand light low.

"The castle is a little spooky in the dark like this." Max spoke lower than a whisper at my ear, and a shiver ran through me, remembering the moment between us on the couch. We'd nearly kissed, and I couldn't deny, I was disappointed by Ron and Hermione's interruption.

"It's safe though, well provided we don't get caught." I leaned into him, whispering back. A door opened ahead, and Ron and Hermione froze as someone exited the prefects bathroom.

"Why are you still patrolling, Mudblood, Weasel? It's nearly midnight."

"Could say the same to you, Pansy." Hermione replied. "You shouldn't be out, either."

"We should sneak past." Harry spoke from behind where Max and I had frozen. I started, and Max grabbed my hand, gently squeezing it.

"Okay, follow behind us." Max breathed, and still holding my hand, we moved along the wall opposite where Ron and Hermione were arguing with Pansy. Hermione elaborately claiming to have heard a rumor a couple of students had stayed out after hours to hook up in a classroom. Pansy demanded who, but Hermione refused to give names, in case she was wrong. A well devised cover for still being on patrol.

"Well, if there are students doing the dirty after hours, I'll be notifying the rest of the Inquisitorial Squad, and their head, Draco, to find and deal with them." Pansy gave a vicious smirk, before flicking her jet black bob, as she hurried away, clearly on her way to alert Draco.

"Ugh, she's such a cow." Hermione seethed. We'd stopped again, just feet ahead of her and Ron, Harry behind us.

"Let's get to the library quickly, I fear we'll have to fight our way out. With less caution, we all hurried through the dark corridors and empty halls, and Hermione, which a flick of her wrist and low muttered words, opened the doors, holding it ajar so we could all slip inside.

"I won't lock us in, so we can all escape as we need to if the worst happens." She whispered. "Ron and I will stay here, so we can intercept anyone."

"We'll stick near Harry, as planned." Max said, and still holding my hand, we followed the now eerily floating low light of Harry's wand and hand as he navigated his way towards the restricted section. While Harry disappeared into the tall shelves, Max and I waited within the stacks, listening for any disturbance or alert from Ron or Hermione. I wondered if he could hear my heart pounding in the silence, energy sparking against our fingertips where we brushed at one another's hands, innocent exploring, yet feeling incredibly intimate in the silence and the dark.

"What's going on in here?" A crabby voice broke the silence. Filch!

"Ron and I are on Prefect duty still, Mister Filch." Came Hermione's clear answer and warning to our ears.

"So, Miss Parkinson says, and there's students out of bed. Where are they?"

"We've just checked in here, can't find anyone." Ron piped up.

"Is that so?"

"I think we should double check to be sure." That was Pansy's voice. "Search the stacks and alcoves, boys." She said, and I felt Max pulling on my arm. Silently, still under the disillusionment charm, we moved towards the study tables. I had no idea what Max had planned, but I guessed distance away from Harry before causing a diversion.

"Do you trust me?" He whispered against my ear, and I was unsure if it was the brush of his lips, or fear of getting caught, which sent tingles down my neck.

"Umm, yes?" He let go of my hand, and quick as a snitch, his hands were at my waist, lifting me to sit on a table, knocking a pile of books to fall in multiple, loud, thumps to the floor.

"Over there!" Someone called.

"What are you doing?" I stared up at the barely visible wizard standing before me, his features coming back into focus as the disillusionment charm fell away.

"Something I've wanted to do for months." He whispered, and then, he was kissing me. Time stopped, and everything around me, around us. Hands found his neck, fingers weaving into gentle curls, pulling him closer. My ponytail was bunched up inside one of his much bigger hands, the other at my waist still, tugging me closer. I didn't resist him, couldn't get enough of his kiss, sweet like sugar and cinnamon with a touch of spice. I wanted more, an irrational thought quickly broken by a piercing light.

"Well, well, well. What have we here?" I pulled away from Max, as Pansy Parkinson's squished face turned into a pinched sneer. Behind her, stood Crabbe, Goyle and surprisingly, Theo Nott. As my kiss addled mind reset itself, I realised this was Max's distraction. It wasn't anything more. And, by the sadistic look of triumph on Pansy's and Theo's faces, we were in a lot of trouble. My heart sank at both let downs. Yet, Max had grasped my hand, and hadn't let go.

"You'll be sorry for sneaking out when Umbridge is finished with you."

"Worth it." I declared, hoping off the desk with a careless flick of my pony tail in the direction of Pansy, pulling Max after me towards the entrance. Why not play along some more? Hopefully it would give Harry the distraction he needed.

"Scarlett?" Hermione gasped, as we reached the main doors, her eyes widening in well performed surprise.

"Clearly you weren't looking very hard." Pansy said, looking from Hermione and Ron with a sneer, before addressing Filch who stood glaring at us. "Caught these two red handed snogging one another in the study area." Pansy reported primly.

"Snogging?" Hermione's voice came out high and disbelieving, while Ron seemed to splutter.

"You'll be reporting to The High Inquisitor first thing in the morning, to receive your punishment." Filch barked out in glee. The man sure had a twisted enjoyment of seeing students suffer.

"Whatever. I rolled my eyes. Hoping it grated on the Slytherins.

"And one hundred points from Gryffindor." Pansy shot me a wicked grin. "Each." At that, Ron let out a disheartened groan.

...

The walk back up to Gryffindor Tower was a quiet one. I'd kept my hands in my robe pockets, unsure now where I stood with Max. Upon entering through the portrait, we were greeted by a grinning Harry, a large stack of books resting on a table, he was partway through resizing.

"Blimey, Harry, did you steal the whole restricted section?" Ron exclaimed, while Hermione just grinned back at the messy haired wizard.

"You've got all sorts here, DA, Potions, Dark Arts, Healing magic, is that a book on Dementors?" Max said, perusing the stack.

"Yep, grabbed everything I could, and snuck out just before you all did." Harry said, looking at both Max and myself. "Is what Parkinson said true, they caught you uh-"

"Yeah." I quickly cut him off, cheeks warming.

"Bloody brilliant thinking." Ron said. "Tied in with Hermione's reason why we're were out so late still."

"Yeah." I nodded, trailing off. Had it been worth it. I was unsure now.

"Well, uh, might head to bed. See you in the morning. Well done guys." Harry said, awkwardly.

"Thanks." Max replied, with his own grin. Did his lips still tingle like mine?

"Me too. I'll see you shortly, Scar?"

"I'll come with you."

"Can you stay a moment?" Max asked, stopping me from following after Hermione.

"Umm, yeah?" I turned at the base of the stairs where our friends had disappeared to face him. He took my hands in his, looking unsure of himself.

"Uh, tonight. It wasn't exactly how I planned on first kissing you." He admitted, looking away before back at me.

"Oh…" I swallowed, heart beginning to speed up. "I thought maybe it was all to create a diversion."

"Gods no, I meant it. I've wanted to kiss you for literal months." He breathed out. "I wanted to wait until you were ready, until you hopefully felt the same." He rushed out. I stared at him, wide eyed. We'd been dancing, or dueling around this for a couple weeks, but his admission left me speechless. He let go of my hands and ran a hand back around his neck. "Merlin, you do feel the same right? Cause I really like you. I wasn't pretending back there."

"No, I, I'm just a bit… well yes, I mean, I feel the same… I'm just… wow." I stammered out, all my earlier confidence and sass in front of the Slytherins gone.

"You feel the same?" Max breathed out; dark eyes bright. I let a smile slip as pixies flooded my stomach.

"Yeah." I admitted.

"Date me?" He asked, grinning.

"Sure." I grinned back, before Max leaned in, sealing our new status with a kiss.

Draco

I was sick to death of the gossip. Everywhere I went, all anyone could prattle on about was Hogwarts dream couple. Pathetic.

I was sick of hearing how they'd been caught in the library after hours, in a disgustingly passionate embrace.

I was sick of hearing how unfair it was they'd been punished by Umbridge. They clearly deserved it.

I was sick of witches gushing over how gorgeous their children would be. She was only fifteen, for Merlin's sake! It was improper.

I was sick of other Wizards bemoaning their jealousy in private yet asking him for all the sordid details. Thank the gods he did not elaborate.

I was sick of seeing her green eyes light up after every single lesson we shared, when he'd be waiting at the door.

I was sick of witches swooning over the fact he carried her bookbag. To every bloody class for her.

I was sick of the secret smile she wore while stirring potions at my side.

I was sick of this entire past few weeks of enduring the flaunting of this sickening relationship.

Most of all, I was sick of feeling... I was not even sure what...

My new status as head of Umbridge's Inquisitorial Squad meant I could ruin the happy couple's lives as often as I saw fit, with House point deductions, and detentions for any little provocation, and Max Hunter was too easy to provoke.

"Twenty points from Gryffindor." I called out smugly, passing by the revolting duo wrapped up in an embrace before the doors to the potions chamber.

"Why the hell are you deducting points, Malfoy?" Max growled out, detaching himself from Scarlett, who refused to look at me.

"You're not part of this class, and clearly distracting the students." I looked him up and down and sneered. "Although to be distracted by you, one must surely be desperate." Sparking green eyes turned on me, angry. I merely smirked at her and continued to our desk. Moments later, she slammed down into the seat next to mine.

"What the hell is your problem?" She hissed under her breath, low enough Snape and anyone else would not hear her.

"Problem?" I hissed right back. "I'm simply performing my duties as head of the Inquisitorial squad and Hogwarts prefect."

"Well, perform your duties, elsewhere." She snapped.

"Don't display your disgusting relationship with that loggerhead publicly, and I shall." The gaze she turned on me was full of surprise. Shit. I'd stepped too far.

"It bothers you?" Shit! I had to think fast. I regarded her coolly, calculating, until she began to look decidedly uncomfortable. Umbridge was convinced Potter and a group of students were up to something. So far, we'd caught no one, but I was sure whatever it was, Scarlett was a part of it.

"On the contrary, "I dropped my voice lower, aware of Snape's presence, "if it bothers you, and I know it does, I'd be happy to stop inconveniencing your time with the lout, for something of value..."

"What do you want, Draco?"

"Always straight to the chase." I whispered. She raised a dark brow, not impressed. "Information on what you and your goody little friends are up to most nights on the Seventh Floor?"

"I have no idea what you are talking about." She shrugged, and began pulling out parchment, readying for the lesson.

"I know your lying, Ashwood. I'll find out, and you and your little friends will suffer far more than a detention." I threatened, watching as her body tensed for a split second.

"I'm not afraid of you, or Umbridge." She declared in barely a whisper, and I knew I'd saved myself from the humiliation of her or anyone knowing just how much I despised her relationship with Hunter.

...

Any updates?

I groaned at the short letter from my father. I'd heard snippets of conversation, mostly from the Weasel hoard, and I was unsure if it would be enough information to satisfy my father, or the dark lord. Knowing to delay my response would illicit more pain, I put quill to parchment.

I am nearly out of my supply of Witham's Finest Belgium Chocolates

Headaches still occurring.

Headache in question aware of injury to eldest of rouge. Reason survived?

Give mother my love.

I added secrecy charms on top of my encrypted words, and sealed the letter, before pocketing it to take to the owlery. To anyone else, it would look like a short letter home asking for chocolates.

On my way to the owlery, I spied a Ravenclaw Witch pacing nervously on the seventh level. She startled upon seeing me.

"Why exactly are you out of your house?" I asked, not missing the way she glanced anxiously behind her, before back at me.

"I... I... was out for a walk. Couldn't sleep."

"It's only ten pm, you'll need to lie better than that." I smirked, striding closer. She was pretty-ish, but reddish blonde hair was not my thing. Still, perhaps I could learn a thing or two from her. "What's your name?"

"Umm, Marietta Edgecombe." She replied.

"Marietta..." I let her name roll on my tongue like a sweet. "And why are you really on the seventh level?" She gulped. "There are illegal activities going on within the school, and I'd hate for you to be a part of those activities..." I paused, planning my next words. Edgecombe, there was an Edgecombe Witch at the Ministry. I'd heard my father speak of her. A pureblood, which meant the goody two-shoes looking witch before me was also likely a pureblood. "What would your mother think, if you were consorting with riff raff, and illegal operations?" I'd chosen my attack correctly, her mouth opened in a silent O, her eyes widening in fear.

"Please, I'm not like that. I don't agree with any... wrongdoings against the Ministry."

"Hmm, then perhaps you can assist our High Inquisitor, with anything you do know." She squeaked in fear, and I nearly laughed. "Of course, you'll be immune to any punishment." I added, gesturing for her to follow. With one last glance behind her, to what I was confident was the location of The Room of Requirement, Marietta Edgecombe followed me meekly to Umbridge's office.

Convincing the witch to go to Umbridge worked fully to my advantage. She confessed some kind of meeting was taking place in the Room of Requirement, before her face broke out into horrid puss filled boils, spelling the word, SNEAK, in front of Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic, and an Auror known as Shaklebolt.

"We must confront Dumbledore immediately." Fudge announced.

"Would it not be prudent to catch those in this meeting?" I interjected, eager for the acknowledgement of the Minister himself. Father would surely be pleased in my involvement. Perhaps it was a good thing I still carried his letter, I might need to add to it.

"An excellent idea, young man." Fudge replied, and Umbridge's eyes filled with glee.

"Yes, Draco, do round up the rest of your squad, we'll apprehend as many of these members as we can. I'm sure Harry Potter is at the head of this. With a smirk and a nod, I hurried from Umbridge's office to find Pansy, Theo, Crabbe, Goyle, Millie, Alex and Montague.

...

Umbridge led the way up to the seventh floor, arriving just in time to catch students racing from the Room of Requirement. "After them!" Umbridge ordered.

I pressed myself behind a large vase, having already cast a disillusionment charm, as running footsteps came closer. I threw a tripping jinx, chortling as I realised I'd caught Potter!

"Hey Professor, Professor, I've got one!" Umbridge rushed towards us, a crazed glee in her beady eyes.

"Excellent Draco! Oh, excellent! Fifty points to Slytherin!" She gushed as Potter groaned. "I'll take him from here, stand up, Potter." Scarhead slowly rose to his feet, scowling at me. I merely smirked triumphantly.

"See if you can find anymore, Draco." Umbridge commanded, seizing Potter's arm. "Tell the others to check the library, the bathrooms. Miss Parkinson can do the girls. Off you go."

With a nod, I raced away, grinning as I caught sight of Pansy and Goyle restraining Cho Chang and Max Hunter in body binding hexes.

"Ashwood, the Mudblood and the Weasels went that way!" Pansy panted, and I ran towards the next stairs, taking three at a time.

There was a shriek, and I saw Alex and Tracy had subdued Granger. The Weasleys' were nowhere in sight, but Scarlett had doubled back, obviously to save the Mudblood. Shoving Granger into Tracy's grasp, Alex raised his wand at Scarlett, only for it to go flying across the corridor towards her. He snarled as Tracy yelped, letting go of Granger. I pointed my wand, intent on disarming her, but instead my body seized, and I was unable to move.

"Hermione, run!" Scarlett called out from behind me, and the mudblood rushed past, a grin on her face. I heard Alex let out a groan, and a muttered counter-spell, and my body was released.

"Get after them!" I yelled, but no matter how much further we searched, everyone who had run from the Room of Requirement had vanished, and Pansy and Goyle had been overpowered by Hunter and McQueen. With an internal growl, I signaled everyone to meet at Umbridge's office to report a list of names which Pansy had found in the Room of Requirement.

...

Dumbledore was gone! There'd been some altercation against the Ministry, and he'd fled, leaving Umbridge to take charge as headmistress to Hogwarts. The change had put me in even more power, and I now bore a badge, so everyone knew I was head of Umbridge's Inquisitorial Squad. The perks to such a position were endless, and I was untouchable, as I should be.

Slytherin was well on track to winning the house cup, for there were so many reasons to deduct points from the other houses. Especially when they talked against the Ministry.

So far, there had only been one real disturbance; a substantial number of fireworks let off within the school. Umbridge had raced about on her first day as Headmistress, trying and failing to subdue them. It had all been amusing, and admittedly the fireworks were brilliant.

Since, the school had fallen into a silence almost, as we ensured Umbridge's rules were followed. I'd just dropped a vial of Truth Serum to the Headmistress, and was making my way to the library, when I heard a series of shouts coming from the fourth level bathrooms. Max Hunter appeared, and I drew my wand.

"Whose shouting in there?" I demanded. He glared at me.

"Don't know, someone's stuck in a toilet. And before you ask, I didn't do it."

"We'll see." I shoved past him to take a look.

"Montague?" I bit back a chortle at the sight of the older Slytherin, half folded into a toilet bowl, his face contorted in confusion. "Who put you in there?"

"I don't know, I was in a cabinet..."

"A cabinet? Looks like a toilet to me." I cocked my head, examining the porcelain, trying to work out where the rest of his legs were.

"Get me out!" He howled, and I grimaced as his voice echoed off the tiles.

"I'll need to find a professor, they can get you out of that filthy predicament." With a chortle and shake of my head, I exited the bathroom in time to see Professor Umbridge. "Professor, I mean, Headmistress, we have a situation-" My words were cut off by Montague's bellows, and Umbridge hurried into the bathroom, before hurrying out again.

"Bring Professor Snape, I'll require his assistance."

"Certainly." I turned to hurry to the dungeons, wondering where Hunter had vanished to, and if he'd been involved or not. Funny, he didn't have Scarlett attached to him. I wondered where she might have been. Perhaps they'd had an argument? Reaching Snape's door, I pushed it open, and slammed to a stop at the sight of, Potter, Snape's wand aimed at him. His eyes must have been as wide as mine.

"It's alright, Draco." Snape said quietly, lowering his wand. "Potter is here for a little remedial potions." He added in way of explanation. What in Salazar's name was going on here? I forced myself to nod, replacing my shock with cool nonchalance.

"I didn't know." I slid my gaze back to Potter. Was this to do with those headaches?

"Well Draco, what is it?" Snape seemed extremely put out by my appearance. What was he up to?

"It's Professor Umbridge, sir. She needs your help." I replied, trying not to laugh as I pictured Montague. "We've found Montague, sir, he's turned up jammed inside a toilet on the fourth floor."

"How did he get in there?" demanded Snape.

"I don't know, sir, he's a bit confused." I shrugged.

"Very well. Potter, we shall resume this lesson tomorrow evening.' He turned and swept from his office, leaving me to stare at Potter a moment.

"Remedial Potions?" I mouthed at him, not for a moment believing that was why the boy wonder was here. He glared at me, seething, face nearly as red as a beetroot. With a smirk, I followed after Snape.

"Why are you helping, Potter?" I asked, hurrying to catch up.

"That is not your business, Draco." Snape replied.

"Does the Dark Lord know?" I whispered, and suddenly Snape had turned on me, his wand pressed against my throat, the cold stone of the dungeon passageways at my back.

"Do not speak of such things." He hissed, black eyes flashing in anger. I swallowed, feeling the thrum of magic through his wand against my skin. "You keep to your tasks, and I'll keep to mine." He stepped away, resuming as if nothing had happened. I followed, an extra step behind him. Oh, I'd keep to my tasks, and ensure my father knew all about Potter's secret meetings.

It took some time for Snape to extract Montague from the toilet; involving an expanding charm, which, was the easy part. The hard part, Montague was a blithering mess. Umbridge, who had tittered about like an annoying flying bug while Snape worked, and I hauled Montague out of the cubicle.

"We really must contact his parents." Umbridge announced, while Montague slumped against the basins.

"Then, I suggest you do just that." Snape said, tone clipped.

"Yes, yes." Umbridge muttered. "I'll do just that." She hurried from the bathroom, and I didn't miss Snape's sigh of relief. He summoned a calming draft, from Merlin knew where, and poured it down Montague's throat. When the older Slytherin had ceased his inteligsable ramblings, Snape questioned him.

"Now, Mister Montague, how exactly did you find yourself to be in a toilet?" I bit down on the inside of my cheek, to keep from outright laughing.

"I woke up in there. It was dark and spinning for so, so long, so long, and then I was in the toilet."

"Professor, perhaps he should go to the hospital wing?" I hedged and received a silencing look.

"And do you remember what you were doing before you ended up in the toilet?" Snape asked.

"I was spinning, around and around, in the dark."

"Before the spinning, what were you doing?"

"He said he was shoved in a cupboard, sir." I added, trying to be help, and received another glare.

"I was locked in a cupboard. It was, it was horrible. It felt like, it felt like it was pulling me apart. Spinning and spinning and pulling me apart, his voice took on a higher note of fear.

"Where was this cupboard?"

"In a room on the... the... first floor."

"The vanishing cabinet." Snape mused.

"A vanishing cabinet?" I'd never noticed one in Hogwarts before. They were rare. There was one I'd seen in Borgin and Burkes on the few occasions I'd accompanied my father to the shady dealer of artifacts.

"I'll escort Mister Montague to the Hospital Wing, his mind is not all there." Snape said. "Draco, find Professor Flitwick and have him move that cabinet where a student will not happen upon it. Its broken and unstable, and therefore, dangerous."

"Yes, sir." I didn't fancy finding Flitwick, but it was an excuse to take a look at this vanishing cabinet. If people ended up like Montague after entering it, perhaps I could shove Potter and Granger in there, be rid of the boy wonder and the walking rats nest.

Another very long in the making update! The great news is, I had a couple weeks off to recover from a surgery, and have a couple more chapters completed, woohoo! So close to the end of fifth year, but never fear, there is still plenty of Draco and Scar moments to come, despite her new relationship staus with the bludgerhead Gryffindork!

Hope everyone is doing great, wherever you are in the world! :)